Table lighter

ABSTRACT

A table-type cigarette lighter of the electromagnetic type has an elongated press key and is disposed in a recess of the housing whereof the burner is near one end. The pivotable mounting of the press key near the other end of the housing permits operation of the key with the application of but a small force at any portion of the press key.

United States Patent (72] Inventors Claus Christian Cobarg, Steinbach;Dieter,

[51] 1nt.Cl F23q 2/00 [50] Field oiSearch 431/277, 264, 274, 254,255,267

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,664,008 12/1953 Gessmann431/274X 3,425,783 2/1969 Goto 43l/264X 3,493,312 2/1970 Guenin etal.431/122 Primary Examiner-Edward G. Favors AttorneyErnest F. MarmorekABSTRACT: A table-type cigarette lighter of the electromagnetic type hasan elongated press key and is disposed in a recess of the housingwhereof the burner is near one end. The pivotable mounting of the presskey near the other end of the housing permits operation of the key withthe application of but a small force at any portion of the press key.

PATENTED JUN 8197] EL IZ INVENTORZ cuxus cmznsmu COBARG, D'ETER RAMS A;

HANS scHmDLER,

JM/v. M,

THEN? ATTORNEY.

TABLE LIGHTER The present invention relates generally to cigarettelighters and it relates more particularly to electromagneticallyoperated table-type cigarette lighters which have a magnetic sparkproducing system including a permanent magnet and an interruptingarmature.

The known cigarette lighters of this type are provided with an operatingmember at their upper end portion which contains also the burner andwhich are usually slidable with respect to the cylinder axis andparallel relation thereto.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cigarette lighterof the table-type which can be handled with a better feel and in whichthe operating mechanism is placed at a point which better satisfies thepractical requirements for a lighter.

In accordance with the invention a lighter is provided in which theoperating member is formed as a press key instead of a pushbutton andwhich is disposed in a recess of the cylindrical housing wall and can bepressed inwardly upon operation in a direction transverse to thelongitudinal axis of the cylindrical housing.

Such construction and arrangement of the operating member makes itpossible that the table-type cigarette lighter can be handled simply byone hand and without the applica tion of a considerable force, as thepress key is arranged along the length of the cylindrical housing,parallel to the axis thereof, and having a length which corresponds atleast to the width of two fingers.

In accordance with the invention, in order to improve and to simplifythe operation of the cigarette lighter, the press key is disposed in thegeneral contour of the cylindrical housing wall and is formed concavelyalong its length on its face pointing outwardly of the lighter housing.In view of this construction the possibility of pinching of the skinduring operation is eliminated.

The force required to operate electromagnetically operated cigarettelighters, to which the present invention relates, generally isconsiderably large. The instant invention provides for a reduction inthat required force by placing the press key in the upper end portion ofthe lighter near the burner containing portions of the cylindricalhousing and, by mounting it on a pair of levers pivotably journaled atthe bottom of the cylindrical lighter housing.

In accordance with the present invention, as applied to a table-typelighter having a magnetic spark producing system comprising a permanentmagnet with an interrupting armature, a spool and spark producingelectrode, the interrupting armature is coupled to the press key througha lever. For the coupling purpose, the press key in accordance with thepresent invention is provided preferably with a cam means which isplaced at a distance from the pivot point of the armature and couplesthe press key with the last-mentioned lever into operationalrelationship when the press key is pressed.

The invention will become more readily apparent from the followingdescription of a preferred embodiment thereof shown, by way of example,in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a table-type lighter in accordance withthe invention having a cylindrical housing with an elongated press keybeing placed in a recess of the housing;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 4 which is thecentral longitudinal axis of the table-type cigarette lighter shown inFIG. 1, and passing also through the middle of the press key; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the press key removed from the overallarrangement.

With reference to H6. 1, it is seen that the cigarette lighter inaccordance with the invention is provided with a cylindrical housing 1having an operating member in the form of a press key 2. The press key 2is disposed in a recess 3 formed in the cylindrical housing 1. Theoperation of the cigarette lighter is effected by pressing the key 2inwardly of the housing, that is, transversely with respect to the axis4 of the cylindrical housin l.

TIC. 2 represents a section through the longitudinal axis 4 of thehousing 1 passing also through the middle of press key 2 of HO. 1. Thepress key 2 is mounted on a pair of similar pivotable levers 5 which inturn are pivotably journaled in a bearing block 6 near the foot portionof housing 1. Such mounting of the press key 2 has the advantage that asufficiently large lever arm is available for the operation of theswitching devices coupled to the press key as discussed below. The presskey 2 in accordance with the invention remains jam free at all timesirrespective at which point the force required for the operation of thelighter is applied to the surface of the press key. The outer surface ofthe press key 2 is concavely formed along its length and it does notprotrude beyond the edges of recess 3 formed in the cylindrical housingwall 1. The press key 2 on its side facing the inside of the housing ofthe lighter has a cam surface provided thereon away from the midpoint ofthe length of the press key, and on which a lever 7 serving for theactuation of the fuel valve, and a lever 8 serving for the actuation ofthe spark-producing mechanism, abut.

FIG. 3 shows the press key alone, removed from the remainder of thelighter. As seen in FIG. 3, the press key 2 is provided on its sideswith holding lugs 9 which secure the press key 2 within the housingagainst the pressure exerted by the levers 7 and The pivoting levers 5are symmetrical and are disposed somewhat eccentric on the lower endportion of the press key 2, in order to avoid the hazard of a sidetripping of the press key and its jamming in case when a force isapplied to the press key 2 at a point other than the center thereof.

While the invention has been described in connection with only onespecific embodiment, it will be readily apparent that numerousmodifications thereof may readily be made. It is, therefore, intended bythe appended claims to cover all such modifications and variations ascome within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. A lighter comprising a housing including an upright cylindrical wall,a spark-producing mechanism including an associated fuel valve disposedin said housing, means for operating said spark-producing mechanism andsaid fuel valve including an elongated press key, said cylindrical wallhaving a recess receiving therein said press key, said press key beingmovable to and from an upright rest position wherein it is disposedsubstantially within the contour of said cylindrical wall, and meansmounting said press key in said housing for movement inwardly from saidrest position when pressed, wherein said housing has a longitudinalupright axis, said press key being elongated in a direction parallel tothe axis and being formed concavely along said direction on the surfacethereof facing outwardly of said housing.

2. A lighter, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said press key has a lengthof about the width of two fingers.

3. A lighter, as claimed in claim 1, and a burner near one end portionof said housing, said press key being disposed in said housing near saidburner, said mounting means comprising lever means pivotably mounted insaid housing near the other end portion thereof.

4. A lighter, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said lever means comprisesa pair of levers.

1. A lighter comprising a housing including an upright cylindrical wall,a spark-producing mechanism including an associated fuel valve disposedin said housing, means for operating said spark-producing mechanism andsaid fuel valve including an elongated press key, said cylindrical wallhaving a recess receiving therein said press key, said press key beingmovable to and from an upright rest position wherein it is disposedsubstantially within the contour of said cylindrical wall, and meansmounting said press key in said housing for movement inwardly from saidrest position when pressed, wherein said housing has a longitudinalupright axis, said press key being elongated in a direction parallel tothe axis and being formed concavely along said direction on the surfacethereof facing outwardly of said housing.
 2. A lighter, as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said press key has a length of about the width of twofingers.
 3. A lighter, as claimed in claim 1, and a burner near one endportion of said housing, said press key being disposed in said housingnear said burner, said mounting means comprising lever means pivotablymounted in said housing near the other end portion thereof.
 4. Alighter, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said lever means comprises apair of levers.